Batting

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Last season, 11 hits were enough for Marian to pick up a rare road victory at UW-Oshkosh, but not this season as the Titans returned the favor and handed the Sabres a 7-4 non-conference setback at a rainy and windy Herr-Baker Field, this evening, April 28.

Things looked promising for the Blue and White in the early going as it overcame a 1-0 first-inning deficit to take a 2-1 lead in the second. However, a four-run fourth inning for the Titans (16-14) proved enough to outlast as they hung on for the three-run victory.

Mitch Huston got his first start of the year and proved effective by allowing just two runs on two hits in three and one-third innings, striking out two and walking none. Ty Gellinger reached base three times, while recording two hits, including an RBI double in the ninth for the Sabres (15-15). Adam Ryan registered two, two-baggers and scored twice, while Chase Eagan also picked up a couple of hits.

Huston got ahead 0-2 on the first batter of the game, UW-Oshkosh's Tyler Kozlowski, but the third pitch was just enough inside to clip the shirt sleeve of the Titan shortstop for a free pass. He would eventually score on Jake Dostalek's two-out single to right center to make it 1-0.

The Sabres had an opportunity to respond in the bottom of the first by getting two on with one out and senior Chad Langley at the plate. However, the Titan right-hander, Aaron Bischoff, induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and the threat.

Marian would gain some momentum in the second as the first two batters reached in the form of Casey Schreiner and Ryan, who singled and doubled to the left side, respectively. A pair of groundouts by Tommy Dugandzic and Earl Vorpagel made the score 2-1 Sabres.

The Titans squeezed home the tying run in the fourth and took the lead on Kozlowski's two-run single to right field in a four-run inning that made it 5-2 Titans.

The lead would balloon to 7-2 when one-of-four Marian errors kept the sixth inning alive long enough for UW-Oshkosh to plate two more.

The Sabres would get one back in the bottom of the sixth on a Tony Grannis pinch-hit RBI single to left, scoring Ryan, who led off with a double. Grannis would score in the ninth on a Gellinger double, but that's all the Sabres would get.

Trent Whitcomb, Neil Hebert and Zac Peterson each recorded two hits on the day for the Titans. Kozlowski and Whitcomb were both responsible for driving in a pair, while Peterson scored twice in the win.

The Sabres will make-up a date with Lakeland College Wednesday, April 30, at Wildwood Park in Sheboygan. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.